Europe has launched a major investment initiative to help innovative technology companies grow into global leaders, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, EU governments, and private institutional investors joining forces to mobilise up to €80 billion in funding for European tech scale-ups.
The initiative marks the second phase of the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI 2.0), designed to address the funding gap faced by high-growth technology companies and strengthen Europe’s position in the global innovation economy. The new investment platform will provide equity financing to promising tech companies seeking to expand while keeping more European innovators anchored within the region.
Building on the success of its first phase, ETCI 2.0 will be significantly larger, with a target fundraising size of up to €15 billion, around four times bigger than the original initiative launched in 2023. The programme aims to mobilise total investments of up to €80 billion to support more than 1,500 scale-ups across Europe.
The initiative will support both large European technology investment funds and, for the first time, mid-sized growth funds managing more than €300 million. It is expected to help establish more than 100 funds, including up to 45 mega-funds focused on investing in fast-growing companies with significant expansion potential.
The European Investment Bank Group will invest up to €1.25 billion into ETCI 2.0, while institutional investors and asset managers from across Europe are joining the alliance. Participants include financial institutions such as AltamarCAM, Azimut Holding, Banco Santander, BBVA, Danske Bank, Green Arrow Capital, and Compagnia di San Paolo, with additional investors expected to participate in the future.
EIB Group President Nadia Calviño said the partnership is focused on providing European technology pioneers with the capital required to grow rapidly and compete globally. The initiative aims to ensure that European companies developing advanced technologies have access to the resources needed to scale within Europe.
The first phase of ETCI supported 15 major investment funds and contributed to the growth of 12 European unicorns, companies valued at more than €1 billion. The expanded programme will build on this foundation by creating a broader pan-European investment platform that connects investors with high-potential technology funds and provides better access to market insights and investment opportunities.
ETCI 2.0 will also complement national and European programmes supporting technology growth, helping create a more connected investment ecosystem across Europe. By combining public and private capital, the initiative aims to strengthen European competitiveness, encourage innovation, improve access to growth-stage funding, and support the development of future global technology leaders.
